And so it was, with the channel opting for a school-themed affair to hype up Noel Edmonds and Are You Smarter Than a 10-Year-Old?. Smiling Sky head honcho Richard Woolfe did the honours with much gusto, allowing himself to be pranked by hired school kids. It was a good gambit – spontaneous applause! Simon Shaps would do well to learn from this. Better yet, Noel himself came on stage, wearing the same shirt he’s sporting in the promo pictures. As you’d expect, he was particularly keen to cue in a spontaneous “television moment”, whereby Woolfe had apparently nipped in part-way through the recording of an episode, and him that the contestant on the show – who was holding out for money to take her cerebral palsy-suffering daughter swimming with dolphins – could indeed go on that trip, courtesy of the upcoming Noel’s Christmas Presents exhumation (on Sky One, natch). 

Indeed, it was a “moment” – best bit being the overcome mum having to skip off stage accompanied by school kids, as is the show’s wont.

Anyway, exciting stuff and – should you not be a Virgin Media Johnny like me – worth a look.

Afterwards, the immaculate bearded one mingled, and reacted politely to being glad-handed by yours truly. Also working the room: Dick and Dom! And then later, there was an “after show” party at the Embassy Club, where Ross Kemp was heard outside bragging to the bodyguards about his recent – ahem – tour of duty in Afghanistan for Ross Kemp on Afghanistan. On?

“Hi there!

We thought that you may be interested to know that we are currently booking tickets for Dick & Dom’s’ new quiz show.

ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 10 YEAR OLD?

Hosted by Dick and Dom this brand new quiz show for all of the family gives grown ups the chance to win big cash if they can answer questions relating to subjects taught in school.

To make it easier, they get three cheats and 5 ten year-olds to help them as they work they way up to the big money prize!

Believe us, when you see what kids learn at school these days, they’ll need it!

It’s a perfect day out for the family during the school holidays, but Mums and Dads beware – this could show the kids whether you really are smarter than a 10 year old! The minimum age for attendance is 8 years and children under 16 should be accompanied by an adult.

If you would like to join us for this exciting and fun new quiz show at Elstree Studios for a morning, then apply now!

Given the Ask The Family remake debacle, let’s hope that this format is a better fit for the duo. The ticket ordering page is here, which also mentions the involvement of Noel Edmonds. Funny how his name wasn’t in the email.